Persuasive Speech: Why We Should Write Out Our Notes by Hand

Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience that we should write out our notes for class by
hand as opposed to typing them.
Thesis Statement: When people write out class notes instead of typing them, they are
generally less distracted, retain the information better, and are less to transcribe information.
Outline
1. Introduction
a. Imagine you are in a classroom
b. Fall to temptation of laptop
c. List why laptop may seem great
d. Break audiences previous conception
2. Less Distractions
a. Lessens likeliness of being distracted by internet
b. Statistic: 60% of laptop users distracted the class 1
c. Design factor - vertical setup
3. Better Retention
a. Rebuttal (what about when no internet)
b. Reaffirm point
c. How writing stimulates RAS and cerebral cortex 2
d. Typing driving, too fast dont pay attention to surrounding, distance over
content
e. Writing Pay more attention, walk through info
4. Less Likely to Transcribe Save time in the long run
a. Mention counterargument typing something takes less time than writing
b. Explain why this can actually be a bad thing end up transcribing
c. Mueller/Oppenheimer study 3
d. Have to sift through notes filled with accessory details
e. Writing filter info beforehand
5. Conclusion
a. Reiterate main points
b. When it comes to notetaking, pen > keyboard
References
1
Sovern, Jeff. "Law Student Laptop Use During Class for Non-Class Purposes: Temptation v.
Incentives.SSRN Electronic Journal SSRN Journal (2013): n. pag. Web.
2
Wade, Patricia A., Ph.D. "Do Students Learn Better by Typing on a Keyboard or Writing with
a Pen?" Medical Student Education Office of Student Affairs. Indiana University, 4 Apr.
13. Web.
3
Mueller, P. A., and D. M. Oppenheimer. "The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages
of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking." Psychological Science 25.6 (2014): 1159-168.
Web.